Developing Joint Counterinsurgency Doctrine: An Airman's Perspective
Abstract
How does the U.S. military plan to win in Iraq? According to some, "The Book" on Iraq is the Army's new Field Manual (FM) 3-24 (designated by the Marine Corps as Warfighting Publication 3-33.5), Counterinsurgency. Though this manual may have been meant as "simply operational level doctrine for two Services," as one contributor insists, it quickly became viewed as much more. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), reflecting the received wisdom of many senior leaders (and probably the public at large), describes FM 3-24 as the "blueprint of U.S. efforts in Iraq today." FM 3-24 does superbly articulate a thoughtful landpower perspective on the complicated challenge of counterinsurgency (COIN). It does not purport to be, however, a full-dimensional joint approach. Indeed, the official Department of Defense (DOD) announcement unveiling the doctrine crowed that it "was a real team effort of Army and Marine writers," underlining the absence of the other Services, who emphasize the air, space, sea, and cyberspace warfighting domains. The result? Among other things, the discussion of airpower is largely relegated to a 5-page annex in the nearly 300-page text. Moreover, that short discussion inexplicably discourages the use of the air weapon in a way not applicable to other fires. Ironically, notwithstanding the doctrine, airstrikes in Iraq soared fivefold in 2007. COIN operations present the kind of multifaceted problem that defies solution by any one component. Despite the ferocious efforts and eye-watering valor of America's Soldiers and Marines, the various groundcentric COIN strategies attempted in Iraq over the years may have proven costly and time-consuming. Exploiting the full capabilities of the whole joint team would seem the wiser course given the complexities of COIN.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA517869
Entities
People
- Charles J. Dunlap Jr.
Organizations
- National Defense University